Tag Archives: Ted Alexander

In appreciation of Ted’s more than 40 years of work in the history field and preservation efforts, a retirement fundraiser dinner will be held on Thursday, Oct. 6 in Greencastle, Pa from 6 to 9 p.m.

The Retirement & Roast will be held at the Blue Heron Events Center at 407 S. Washington St. in Greencastle, just minutes from the historic Mason Dixon Line. The event will include a delicious country buffet with fried chicken, stuffed pork chops, lasagna, salad, green beans, mixed vegetables, drinks and dessert.

Cost per person is $25 with a portion of the proceeds going toward the Preservation and Education Fund of Chambersburg Civil War Seminars & Tours as well as the Ed Bearss Award. A silent auction will also be held with books, prints and other items to raise funds for these initiatives.

Donations will be awarded that evening to various groups such as the Save Historic Antietam Foundation.

Below is an excerpt from the 2015 Franklin County Visitor’s Guide published by the Franklin County Visitors Bureau.

Year after year, Ted Alexander spoke, wrote, and presented about the history of Franklin County. He worked for more than thirty years to educate the local community and the general public about Franklin County. Using everything in his power, he planted seeds of recognition and worked to make the public understand the importance of this place in American history.

Ted authored, edited, and contributed 10 books on the Civil War and other aspects of American history. He also authored more than 200 book reviews and articles for publications like “Civil War Times,” “Blue & Gray Magazine,” and “The Washington Times.” He is the co-founder of the Chambersburg Civil War Seminars with the Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce and contributed as the lead historian on the development of the Chambersburg Heritage Center.

Thank you, Ted Alexander, for you passionate drive, long hours of diligent work, and helping to educate so many about Franklin County’s history. Because of your years of contribution, Franklin County has an event yearly commemorating the 1864 burning of Chambersburg.

Time is flying, but there is still time to sign up for our Ed Bearss weekend. This is going to be a really great event. Ed will be 91 this June. Yet he can still out hike most people. On Friday, April 4, we begin this special weekend with Ed talking about his service and wounding by the Japanese in the Pacific in WWII. A talk on Ed’s books will follow. Terry Winschell, retired Chief Historian of Vicksburg, N.M.P. has read everything that Ed has ever written. His talk, “Reading Bearss” will provide an excellent introduction to Ed’s many published works. Next is a panel of scholars with Richard Sommers, Dennis Frye and others as we look at the man and his contributions to the history field.

After dinner Ed will present a power point program on one of his greatest preservation accomplishments, the raising and stabilization of the U.S.S. Cairo.

On Saturday, April 5 will be a walking tour of the final attack trail at Antietam.There Ed will tell the story of Burnside’s attack as only he can do. Next, the bus will go to Gettysburg for a bountiful lunch at the historic Dobbin’s House. Afterward, Ed will lead a tour of the fighting on July 1, 1863. Here is your chance to walk in the footsteps of Buford’s dismounted troopers, the Iron Brigade and Heth’s gray clad soldiers, with Americas’ premier battlefield guide. That evening we will have dinner and testimonials from many of Ed’s friends. Let us know if you would like to say something.

We will wrap up Sunday morning with a talk by Dennis Frye on his work with Ed over the years in the National Park Service. Ed will give two talks. Ed is the leading authority on the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads and his book, FORREST AT BRICE’S CROSSROADS is the definitive work on the subject. Accordingly, we could not let this weekend pass without having him give a talk on the subject. The event will conclude with Ed discussing his several meetings with President Lyndon B. Johnson and the acquisition of the LBJ Ranch by the National Park Service.